Stress is mental tension or a state of worry caused by a difficult situation. We all experience stress to some extent, and it affects both our body and mind. Some stress can be helpful and motivating, but it can also be overwhelming.

Symptoms of stress can be irritability, difficulty concentrating, body pains, headaches, and other physical symptoms, and can increase use of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and other substances. 

Stressful situations can also make mental health symptoms worse. It is helpful to get good sleep, keep a daily routine, foster a healthy social life, eat healthy, exercise, drink water, and limit news exposure. 

Anxiety is both a mental health diagnosis and a helpful state of being. The American Psychological Association notes that anxiety "is an emotion characterized by apprehension and somatic symptoms of tension in which an individual anticipates impending danger, catastrophe, or misfortune." It can serve to protect us, though if it reaches or exceeds an identified clinical threshold, it is considered a mental health disorder. 

Symptoms of anxiety can include  intense perseveration (overthinking, difficulty stopping thoughts), difficulty controlling worry, fear, or panic, feeling "on edge," hyperventilation, feeling tired, trouble concentrating, difficulty sleeping, upset stomach, sweating, or trembling.

If you are struggling with stress or anxiety and not sure what to do, reach out to us!

Have you experienced a shift in your mood over the week/month that doesn't feel "normal?" Or felt "opposite" emotions in quick succession? This could be evidence of a mood disorder. Depression, bipolar disorder, and other clinical diagnoses traditionally fit in this category. 

Some individuals question whether they have difficulty navigating difficut situations, or feel like they could "snap" at any moment. Some individuals who menstruate note difficulty navigating mood shifts month-to-month.

 Therapy can be a great space to learn more about how to manage your mood!

Everyone has a "personality" - what makes them them, their traits, their interests, their methods of coping. 

It is an "individual’s pattern of behavior and traits that are long-standing and present since adolescence or early adulthood. Aspects of personality include the way people tend to think about themselves (e.g. self-confident or lacking confidence), how they relate to people (e.g. shy vs. friendly), how they interpret and deal with events in the environment, and how they react emotionally to all of this" (APA, 2022).

Researchers and scholars have discussed what a "healthy personality" is for many years. The agreed-upon definition includes an ability to "cope with the normal stress of life and develop and maintain satisfying friendships and intimate relationships." If you feel that you struggle with "life," therapy can be a great space to discuss.

Some individuals exhibit symptoms, behaviors, and experiences that impact how they respond to others - especially in how they respond emotionally, to other people, and how they control their own behavior. 

There is a stigma with personality disorders - that people are "broken," "manipulative," "harmful," or "untreatable." Practitioners and researchers are working to change this notion.

An estimated 9% of US adults have at least one personality disorder per the DSM-5-TR criteria - approximately 301.2 million people (APA, 2022). Some report that their family members or friends exhibit difficult traits - therapy can be a helpful space to review and process this as well. 

Sex is a healthy part of life between two consenting adults. Couple's therapy, sex therapy, and intimacy coaching can be helpful to individuals that are struggling with libido challenges, relational struggles, or managing mismatched desires. If you are looking for a therapist to support you in addressing these issues, we can offer a referral to a Certified Sex Therapist (CST) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) for you.

At Amicus Counseling, we can focus on another area of sex in therapy - problematic and/or difficulty managing sexual thoughts and behavior.

Therapists are mandated reporters and must disclose the harm of another individual or the use of Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM), or child pornography. However, treatment serves as an area to address problematic behaviors before engagement in illicit or illegal actions.

Pornography Use

Some individuals struggle with managing their pornography use - time spent, content, marital issues, etc.

Therapy can be a great space to identify aspects of "sexual addiction" or "pornography addiction" and other problematic behaviors with pornography use.

Sex "Addiction"

Researchers and practitioners have continued to debate on whether sexual addiction is a diagnosable and/or behavioral addiction. 

The World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) recognizes Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD) as an impulse control disorder. However, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) had not recognized compulsory behavior as a formal diagnosis. 

If you are struggling with managing your sexual behavior, treatment could be a space to review strategies to cope.

Sexual Urges & Sexual Offending

Some individuals report difficulty managing their sexual behavior. If you have engaged in illegal sexual behavior, including engagement with Child Sexual Exploitation Material (CSEM), or child pornography, therapists are mandated reporters and must report this to the authorities. However, if you have experienced distressing sexual thoughts or are having difficulty managing them, treatment is available. Contact us to find out more!

Depression is a disorder that causes loss of interest and a persistent feeling of sadness. It impacts how an individual thinks, feels, and behaves, and can impact "normal" day-to-day activities.

Symptoms of depression can include sadness, hopelessness, emptiness, or tearfulness, irritability, sleep difficulties, tiredness, appetite changes, slowed thinking, trouble concentrating, and more.

Some individuals may experience suicidal ideation (thoughts to end their life). These thoughts range from "I don't want to wake up tomorrow" to "I want to end my life now." 

If you struggle with these thoughts, you can always access 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call/text 988) or the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line at 833-773-2445 (call or message at www.masshelpline.com)

Therapy can be a great option to navigate and manage these symptoms.

Marijuana Use

Yes, you can get addicted to marijuana!

It is estimated that approximately 3 in 10 people who use cannabis have a diagnosable disorder (CDC, 2024). 

More individuals have been using marijuana legally as it has been legalized in many states. However, because it is not legal at the Federal level, there isn't as much research on its effects as there could be.

There may be lasting impacts of ongoing cannabis use, including difficulty with memory, learning, or attention.

If you find that you are using more cannabis than intended, failing to quit using, craving marijuana, using while driving, driving while intoxicated, or continuing to use despite problems in your life (social, emotional, educational, employment), it may be good to discuss this with a mental health or medical professional. 

Alcohol Use

Many individuals can identify the "stereotypical" symptoms of alcohol addiction such as drinking when you wake up, avoiding responsibilities because you're hungover, impulsivity, anger/mood difficulties, withdrawal, or hiding alcohol. While these symptoms may point to Alcohol Use Disorder, many individuals may have "less severe" symptoms and still meet criteria. 

If you experience the below, you may meet criteria for Alcohol Use Disorder:

• Find it difficult to stop drinking

• Need more alcohol to gain the desired effects

• Strong alcohol craving

• Have symptoms of withdrawal when not using (shaky hands, watery/bloodshot eyes, sweating, nausea)

• Spend time recovering from a hangover, or drink to get rid of or manage a hangover

• Yielding to peer pressure or "only drink socially"

• Difficulty decreasing or stopping alcohol use

Other Substances

Some individuals use or have used other illicit or legal substances and struggle to manage their use. If you find it difficult to manage your use of the following substances, you should contact a professional:

• Nicotine, vape, or "Zyn" Nicotine Pouches

• Cigarettes or tobacco

• Misusing prescribed pills, or using pills that aren't prescribed to you

• Stimulants (Cocaine, crack, methamphetamine, Adderall, Ritalin)

• Depressants (GHB, Xanax, valium)

• Hallucinogens (mushrooms, LSD, MDMA/Ecstasy)

• Dissociative substances (Ketamine, PCP, DXM)

• Narcotic substances (Heroin, Vicodin, Hydrocodone, Oxycontin, Methadone)

• Inhalants (Gasoline, paint thinner, aerosols)

Clients have unique stressors and concerns when they identify as members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community.

• Stigma from family, society

• Self-acceptance & shame

• Identity rumination

• Decision fatigue

• Hypervigilance

• Fear of rejection

• Estrangement

• Religious and cultural conflicts

• and more

All individuals are welcome to therapy and treatment services at Amicus Counseling!

Individuals of all cultural and racial backgrounds face unique challenges when navigating their daily lives:

• Discrimination

• Stigma and shame

• Stress, anxiety, hypervigilance

• Generational trauma

• Bicultural stress

• Conflicting values

• Police and systemic violence

• and more

Amicus Counseling is committed to providing culturally and racially sensitive treatment to all individuals, regardless of their background! 

Social & Cultural Stressors

Individuals who identify as women also face unique social and cultural stressors:

• Workplace inequalities

• Imposter syndrome

• "Mental Load"

• Balancing career and family

• Relationships

• Self-esteem

• Body image

• Boundaries

Therapy is a great space to talk, work through problems, and take time for self-reflection. 

Biological Challenges

Women and women-identifying individuals may face unique physical and biological challenges:

• Menstrual Health

• Menopause and Perimenopause

• Perinatal & Postpartum

Amicus Counseling can provide a referral to a specialized treatment provider for these concerns. Contact us!

Men may face concerns including

• Difficulty expressing emotion

• Self-esteem & self-confidence

• Masked or suppressed symptoms

• Work stress

• Societal/familial pressures

• Sexual behaviors

Treatment can be a great space to discuss all of the above and more!

When someone experiences a traumatic event, it is normal to experience upsetting memories, have trouble sleeping, or feel on edge. Most people feel better after a few weeks or months, and "crisis management" or "short-term" therapy can be helpful.

If, after months from the event, an individual is struggling to manage intrusive thoughts or memories about an event or collection of events, face difficulty with anniversaries of an event, or avoid activities or locations that remind them of the event, they may meet criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

"PTSD" or feeling "triggered" can be used as buzzwords, especially on social media and the internet, it it is a complex disorder whose symptoms may not appear right away. Individuals experience symptoms for at least six months prior to a formal diagnosis. 

If you are wondering if a PTSD diagnosis may explain your symptoms, contact us!  

American Psychological Association. “Anxiety.” American Psychological Association, 2025, www.apa.org/topics/anxiety. 

Boekeloo, Bradley O, et al. “LGBTQ+ Cultural‐Competence Training Effectiveness: Mental Health Organization and Therapist Survey Outcome Results from a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.” Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, vol. 31, no. 1, 25 Aug. 2023, https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2893. 

CDC. “Cultural Understanding and Awareness.” The Toolkit for Technology-Based Partner Services, 12 Sept. 2024, www.cdc.gov/std-ips/php/about/cultural-understanding-and-awareness.html. 

CDC. “Understanding Your Risk for Cannabis Use Disorder.” Cannabis and Public Health, 26 Feb. 2024, www.cdc.gov/cannabis/health-effects/cannabis-use-disorder.html. Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Mood Disorders.” John Hopkins Medicine, 2019, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/mood-disorders. 

“Compulsive Sexual Behavior - Diagnosis and Treatment - Mayo Clinic.” Mayoclinic.org, 19 Apr. 2023, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/compulsive-sexual-behavior/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20360453.  

Kraus, Shane W., et al. “Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder in the ICD-11.” World Psychiatry, vol. 17, no. 1, 19 Jan. 2018, pp. 109–110, https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20499. 

Mayo Clinic. “Anxiety Disorders.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 29 July 2025, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961.

“Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line.” Massachusetts Behavioral Help Line, 2026, www.masshelpline.com/. 

Mayo Clinic. “Anxiety Disorders.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 29 July 2025, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961. 

Mayo Clinic. “Alcohol Use Disorder.” Mayo Clinic, 18 May 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-use-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20369243. 

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder.” National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 2025, www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-alcohol-use-disorder. 

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. “Understanding Alcohol Use Disorder.” National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), 2025, www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-alcohol-use-disorder. 

National Institute of Mental Health. “Women and Mental Health.” Www.nimh.nih.gov, May 2021, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/women-and-mental-health. 

Mayo Clinic. “Alcohol Use Disorder.” Mayo Clinic, 18 May 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alcohol-use-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20369243.
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Robitz, Rachel. “What Are Personality Disorders?” American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Association, 2022, www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/personality-disorders/what-are-personality-disorders. 

SAMHSA. “Substance Use Disorder - Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Help.” Samhsa.gov, 2024, www.samhsa.gov/substance-use. 

“Therapy for Women.” Www.goodtherapy.org, 2019, www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/women-issues. 

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